Sir Jim Ratcliffe issues Manchester United response to Chelsea links for Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo | OneFootball

Academy graduates touted for exits to raise money after financial issues

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have both been linked with moves away from Manchester United

Manchester United via Getty Images

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists Manchester United will not be strong-armed into selling young stars like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo due to their financial issues.

A string of cost-cutting measures have been implemented at the club to stop that, while there have also been hundreds of of redundancies.

“I recognise I’m unpopular at the moment - but I am prepared to be, and I can deal with being unpopular for a period of time because I believe that what we're doing is the right thing,” Ratcliffe told the BBC.

“Manchester United has come off the rails - we need to get it back on the rails, and I believe what we are doing will put it back on the rails and we’ll finish up being where Liverpool or Real Madrid are today in the future.

“Manchester United would have run out of cash by the end of this year - by the end of 2025 - after having me put $300m (£232.72m) in and if we buy no new players in the summer.

“We are in the process of change and it’s an uncomfortable period and disruptive and I do feel sympathy with the fans.

“The simple answer is the club runs out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things.”

Ratcliffe, however, has stressed how the financial situation will not be the reason young stars like Garnacho or Mainoo are sold.

Both players, who a products of United’s academy, have been linked with moves and Garnacho was tracked by Chelsea during the January transfer window.

“The club had got bloated so we reduced that and will finish it with a lean and efficient organisation.

“That’s how we will address the costs. The player decisions will all be focused on how we are going to improve performance. That’s all.”

One player who could leave Old Trafford this summer is Marcus Rashford, who is excelling at Aston Villa on loan.

“He’s moved out of Manchester and maybe that’s a good thing for him,” Ratcliffe added. “I am very pleased he is doing well.

“It’s good to see because he has got tremendous talent, but for whatever reason it wasn’t working in Manchester for the past couple of seasons. But he is a very talented footballer, Rashford.”